UNCHR: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION (BURMA

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

EXTRACTS ON BURMA FROM THE 1998 REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION


Economic and Social Council
Distr. GENERAL 
E/CN.4/1998/40 
28 January 1998 
Original: ENGLISH

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 
Fifty-fourth session 
Item 8 of the provisional agenda 

QUESTION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS SUBJECTED TO 
ANY FORM OF DETENTION OR IMPRISONMENT 

Promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression 

Report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Abid Hussain, submitted 
pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/26 


12.The Special Rapporteur views with concern measures taken by Governments
to impede the free flow of information. Of particular concern are the
actions by Governments which provide for extremely harsh punitive measures
against groups and individuals seeking to benefit from new information
technologies. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur recalls information in
the report to the fifty-third session of the Commission by the Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar (E/CN.4/1997/64,
para. 18) according to which: 

"the Computer Science Development Law of 27 September 1996 makes the
unauthorized import, possession, and use of certain types of computer
equipment, for example computers with networking capability, punishable
with sentences of 7 to 15 years' in prison and/or a fine. A 'Myanmar
Computer Science Council' will be established to approve the type of
equipment to be restricted. According to the Government-controlled
newspaper New Light of Myanmar (NLM), the punishment is prescribed for
anyone setting up links with a computer network without permission or who
uses computer networks or information technology for undermining State
security, law and order, national unity, the national economy or national
culture or who obtains or transmits State secrets. Members of unauthorized
computer clubs may, according to reports, be sentenced to prison terms of a
minimum of three years. A punishment of 5 to 10 years' imprisonment is
prescribed for anyone who imports or exports computer software or
information banned by the Myanmar Computer Science Council." 

****************